Latex
Natural: Dipped goods (medical and Surgical items,
household and industrial gloves, boots, and balloons) utilize more than half of
all Natural Latex consumed in the United States. The adhesives industry is
the second largest user of Natural Latex in products such as shoes, envelopes,
labels, and pressure sensitive tape.
Natural Latex with a high solids:
Content is also used for making molds for casting plaster, cement, wax,
low temperature metals, and limited run polyester articles. Natural Latex
has the ability to shrink around the object to be reproduced, so that the
smallest detail will be reproduced in the cast. Latex is even being used
to help stabilize desert soils to make them suitable for agricultural uses.
Synthetic: Most synthetic Rubber is created from
two materials, styrene and butadiene. Both are currently obtained from petroleum.
Over a billion pounds (454,000,000 kg)of this type of Rubber was manufactured
in the United States in 1992. Other synthetic Rubbers are made from specialty
materials for chemical and temperature resistant applications.
Raw Materials: The composition of Latex Sap
consists of 30-40% Rubber particles, 55-65% water, and small amounts of protein,
sterol glycosides, resins, ash, and Sugars. Rubber has high elasticity and a Polymer
molecular Structure. This Structure consists of a long chain made up of tens of
thousands of smaller units, called monomers, strung together. Each monomer unit
has a molecular size comparable with that of a simple substance such as sugar.
Other special chemicals are used as preservatives or stimulants during
the Harvesting process.
The Manufacturing Process:
Growing and processing Natural Rubber is one of the most complex agricultural
industries and requires several years. It combines botany, chemistry, and
sophisticated machinery with dexterous skills of the people who Harvest the
Trees. Contrast this with synthetic Rubber production, which involves chemical
reactions and sophisticated chemical processing machinery that is automatically
controlled by computers. The production of Natural Latex is described below.
Planting:
Seeds from high-grade Trees are planted and allowed to grow for about 12 to 18 months
in the nursery before a new bud is grafted to the seedling. After bud grafting,
the year-old seedling Tree is cut back and is ready for transplanting. The bud
sprouts shortly after transplanting, resulting in a new Tree with better
properties.
Tapping: To Harvest Latex, a worker shaves
off a slanted strip of bark halfway around the Tree and about one third in (0.84 cm)
deep. Precise skill is required for if the Tree is cut too deeply, the Tree will
be irreparably damaged. The Latex then bleeds out of the severed vessels, flows
down along the cut until it reaches a spout, and finally drops into a collection
cup that will later be drained.
A tapper first collects the cut lump:
Which is coagulated Latex in the cup, and Tree lace, which is Latex coagulated
along the old cut. Next, the tapper makes a new cut. The Latex first flows rapidly,
then declines to a steady rate for a few hours, after which it slows again. By
the next day, the flow has nearly stopped as the severed vessel becomes plugged
by coagulated Latex.
Producing dry stock:
A giant extrusion dryer that can produce up to 4,000 lbs (1,816 kg) per hour removes
the water, creating a crumb-like material. The dried Rubber is then compacted
into bales and crated for shipment.
Forming sheets:
The acid makes Rubber particles bunch together above the watery Serum in which
they are suspended. After several hours, roughly one pound (0.45 kg) of soft,
gelatinous Rubber coagulates for every three pounds (1.35 kg) of Latex.
Producing other products:
To make Rubber products, the mix is shaped by placing it in a heated mold, which
helps shape and vulcanize the material. For more complex products, such as tires,
a number of components are made, some with fiber or steel-cord reinforcement,
which are then joined together.
Quality Control: A number of quality checks
are made after the Latex is Harvested. The Latex is checked for purity and
other properties. After each step of the production process, technicians
check physical properties and chemical composition, using a variety of
analytical equipment.
What is Natural Latex made from:
Natural Latex is made of Sap Harvested from Rubber Trees.
The Sap is whipped into a froth and baked into cozy Latex layers.
Natural Latex is made exclusively from Rubber Tree Sap. This means
that it does not contain any outside Fillers such as clay or sand,
which can decrease the overall lifespan of the mattress. The Rubber Sap,
or Serum, is whipped into a Liquid foam, poured into molds, and baked.
What does Natural Latex mean:
What is Natural Latex: Natural Latex is made exclusively from Rubber Tree Sap.
This means that it does not contain any outside Fillers such as clay or sand,
which can decrease the overall lifespan of the mattress. The Rubber Sap,
or Serum, is whipped into a Liquid foam, poured into molds, and baked.
Is Natural Latex safe:
Yes, Natural Latex is considered safe. It is not treated with harmful chemicals
such as pesticides or formaldehyde. However, if you have a Latex allergy, you
may want to ask for a sample to see if you have a reaction before purchasing
a Latex mattress.
What is the difference between Latex and Natural Latex:
The term “Latex” basically describes any Polymer in a water-based Liquid or
viscous state. For instance Latex paint does not contain Natural Rubber Latex
but does contain Liquid synthetic Polymers. Natural Rubber Latex refers to
the white Sap that comes from the hevea brasiliensis Tree.
What is 100% Natural Latex:
100% Natural Dunlop or Talalay Latex: Like organic Latex, 100% Natural is made
from the Sap of the Rubber Tree which is processed (see manufacturing process
for Dunlop and Talalay). 100% Natural Latex does not carry the associated USDA
agricultural certification.
Is Latex a Natural material:
Latex is the soft white substance found beneath the bark of a mature Rubber
Tree. You may be surprised to think of Latex as a Natural material, given the
strength and man-made feel of so many of its final applications, like tires,
Rubber gloves, and tennis shoes.
What is Natural Talalay Latex:
Talalay Latex has been called “earth's most perfect sleep material.” Natural
Latex is extracted from the Rubber Tree and processed using Natural Biodegradable
ingredients that come from renewable sources.
Is Natural Latex better than memory foam:
Memory foam mattresses. Outperform Latex mattresses in all tests which measure
comfort, like proper blood circulation. ... A memory foam mattress offers your
body the best sleep surface on the market, with better blood circulation and
contouring support being big pluses. BUT, most memory foam is made using
harsh chemicals.
Is Latex toxic to humans:
Latex allergy may cause itchy skin and hives or even anaphylaxis, a potentially
life-threatening condition that can cause throat swelling and severe difficulty
breathing.
Is Latex healthy to sleep on:
The unique feel of a Latex mattress can provide a restful night's sleep.
Although expensive, Natural Latex is constructed from durable materials
and maintains quality after years of use. Beds with Natural Latex are
typically eco-friendly mattresses, and they are also sustainable and
easier to care for, as well.
Is Natural Latex Biodegradable:
Natural Latex is Biodegradable and environmentally safe, but, according
to Rubber Technology, it is treated with ammonia and with tetramethyl
thiuram disulfide plus zinc oxide as a preservative against bacterial
decomposition. Balloons are usually made with a small amount of
plasticizer added.
What is difference between Latex and Rubber:
Latex, which is tapped from Trees, is the all Natural milky Sap used
to make Rubber. Latex and Rubber are both made from Latex, which is tapped
from Trees. Essentially Latex is the raw material for Rubber.
Is Latex good for health:
Healthy – One of the biggest “selling points” of Natural Latex is that
it is a healthy and safe material to sleep on. Latex is Naturally fire
resistant. Other types of mattresses have many different chemicals added
to them during manufacturing to increase their resistance to fire.
Wishing you all the best,
http://www.seeyourneeds.in